Greetings to All,
I am writing to you because you share both heart & concern with me for those whom Jesus called “the least of these, my brothers”. More specifically, those who are imprisoned.
This is a story about 2 men. One you see pictured with Jesus and the other is the artist and author to the central theme of this story.
In Mark chapter 5 we see Jesus ministering to the crowd when a synagogue official named Jairus, who squeezed through the crowd with urgency because his daughter is dying and has hope that Jesus will heal his beloved little girl. Jesus goes with him and is thronged by the crowd as Jairus pushes frantically forward to clear a path towards his home.
At one point he looks back and Jesus has stopped because someone from the crowd touched Him and inquiring He asks; “who is it that has touched my garment?” The women who has suffered with poor health twelve years, unable to be cured of her bleeding issues by doctors but believes as Jairus does that Jesus can perform the miracle they seek admits her secret touch. Jesus comforts her and explains “your faith has made you whole”
The artist Charlie adds; “I don’t know how Jairus acted, but I would have been thinking; Man, this women is old and has had this issue for the past 12 years and certainly could wait another day or two, Can’t you please hurry Jesus my precious young daughter is dying!”
It is while comforting the woman when someone from Jairus’s house shouts out to Jairus that his daughter has died and not to trouble Jesus any further. Hearing this news he collapses to the floor in utter despair, all seems lost. That is when Jesus turns to him and says “Do not fear, only believe” Mark 5:36 and it is that verse that inspired the painting.
Now let me introduce you to the artist. His name is Charlie Robson who is in year 7 of a 17 year sentence at Florence Prison. He wanted to portray a faceless person in a dark surrounding to express how it might feel to anyone when you hear news that shakes your world like: your child is dead or has been in a tragic accident. You hear the words: guilty, sentenced to 20 years. Or, you have cancer and it has spread throughout your body. Maybe its: I don’t love you anymore or your son / daughter is hooked on drugs, whatever the tragedy nothing else matters and everything around you is dark and disappointing. The verse was one he (Charlie) has held on to through many trials like; nobody is released early,” Just believe”. Statistics reveal my kids will end up in trouble because dad is not at home, “Just Believe”. People say my wife won’t be able to wait that long, and it’s wrong for me to even expect her to. “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
In my opinion (Charlie’s words) the one thing that is universal to all people, in all times, in all cultures is suffering. Everyone who has taken breath has felt sorrow. But the saddest part is that while we know sorrow, we do not all know the Man of Sorrows. Who for our sake experienced the worst the world could give so that when we walked our road in tears we could cling to Him who knows our pain and whispers to us “Ignore the bad news, don’t be afraid, just believe”. What is truly amazing is: God is not locked into our world of time. He can give all His attention to each of us for as long as we need and not ignore anyone else in doing so.
I have asked Frank Switzer who is Charlie’s mentor if I may share this story and painting with others, and it is with his permission I do so. I pray it has ministered to you as it has been a blessing to me.

Your Brother in Christ and His Ministry,
Bob Corelli